Lean Manufacturers’ Transcendence to Green Manufacturing

摘要

A survey was administered to manufacturers recognized by the Shingo Prize as Lean to determine if they aretranscending to a Greener state because of their commitment to Lean production. Results were compared with datapublished by Melnyk, et al. [1] regarding the Greenness of over 1100 general manufacturing plants. The companiesrecognized by Shingo score significantly higher in Greenness than the manufacturers studied by Melnyk, et al. Thissuggests that Lean companies are embracing Green objectives and transcending to Green manufacturing as a naturalextension of their culture of continuous waste reduction, integral to world class Lean programs.